Conclusion

This lesson has tried to give you a quick snapshot of applied social psychological research methods, however it is far from complete. It is highly recommended that you take a research methods course and/or find a more complete resource (such as a research methods textbook) to further your knowledge. There are several compelling reasons to do so. The first is research methods are the backbone of all science, particularly the social sciences, as psychologists and researchers similar to them continually have to adapt their methodology as society changes. The second is even more practical in that it will help you understand your coursework (and therefore succeed). And the final is probably the most personal; knowledge of research methods will make you a better consumer of information; which in our information age is more important than it has ever been; in other words, knowledge of about how to obtain knowledge will allow you to sort out the good from the bad information more successfully in your life, which will give you an advantage over many people.

References

James, W. (1907). Pragmatism: A New Name for Some Old Ways of Thinking. New York: Hackett Publishing.

Kant, I. (1788). The Critique of Practical Reason.

Luo, S., & Klohnen, E.C. (2005). Assortative Mating and Marital Quality in Newlyweds: A Couple-Centered Approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 88(2), 304-326.

Mar, R.A. (2004). The neuropsychology of narrative: story comprehension, story production and their interrelation. Neuropsychologia, 42, 1414-1434.

Pelham, B.W., & Blanton, H. (2007). Conducting Research in Psychology: Measuring the Weight of Smoke. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

United States Census Bureau. (n.d.). United States Census Bureau Homepage. Retrieved June 16^th, 2011 at: http://www.census.gov/

Lesson 2 Assignments

1. Read Chapters 2 and 3 in your textbook: Social Psychological Theory and Research Methods.
2. Complete your first essay.
3. Complete the Lesson 2 Discussion Forum.
4. Complete Quiz 2.